Enjoying a restful break in a cabin in the woods has become all the rage in recent years, but as the cost of living crisis rumbles on, some of the UK's best-loved holiday villages are just too pricey for families to consider.
Tucked away in breath-taking forests in idyllic locations, well-equipped cabins packed full of luxurious amenities that can house large groups of holidaymakers, these upgraded outdoor camping options offer families everything they need for a short break that's easy to reach by car.
But, with ever-increasing prices and hidden extra costs that soon add up, the average cost for a family of four during the summer holidays can quickly skyrocket.
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While Center Parcs is undoubtedly one of the UK's most popular holiday villages, holiday prices are often at a premium. With its iconic indoor water park housed in a giant dome, mile upon mile of cycling trails and walking routes, wellness treatments, play parks and lots of places to eat and drink, all five of the brand's resort villages in Sherwood Forest, Whinfell, Longleat, Elvedon and Woburn can be costly in the high season.
For a family of four staying in a two-bed lodge in the Sherwood Forest Parc, for example, guests can expect to pay upwards of £2200 in July. Food, drink and a variety of additional activities will cost extra on top of that.
If Centre Parcs is too pricey for your pocket this year, other options offer outdoor living and family fun for prices that are a little easier to swallow.
We've looked at some of the best alternatives to Center Parcs this summer, and given an idea of the cost of a seven-night family holiday in July and August to compare.
Bluestone, Wales
The 500-acre Bluestone Resort is an all-weather luxury resort nestled amongst the trees of the Bluestone National Park in Pembrokeshire.
Guests can choose from a range of well-equipped lodges set around a private Welsh village with its own restaurants, shops, a pub and a Well Spa with holistic treatments and thermal rooms.
For activity seekers, the Steep Ravine offers high ropes and a zip wire and the giant transparent roof at the centre of the park is home to the Serendome with its play areas, plants and terraces. There is also a subtropical indoor water park called the Blue Lagoon that offers all of the watery fun and frolics Brits expect to see when they visit a holiday village.
Whether you want to just sit back and enjoy the view or take part in some high-octane activities, there is plenty to do in this smaller but really rather well-thought-out holiday resort.
The price for two adults and two children staying in a two-bedroom lodge for seven nights on July, 31 starts at £1893. The price includes free access to the Lagoon Water Park and the Serendome, seasonal entertainment, outdoor trials and nature parks and free WiFi.
Bluestone is currently offering 10% off self-catering breaks between June, 2 and August, 31. For more details and how to book, click here.
Ribby Hall Village
Set in 130 acres of Lancashire countryside, this five-star holiday village can be found close to Blackpool and Lytham St Annes.
The outdoor resort offers a mix of cottages and lodges and has lots of outdoor and indoor activities for visitors to enjoy during their stay. According to the website, guests are invited to go fishing, scale a climbing wall, paint some pottery, take on some archery or swim in the pool, before enjoying living entertainment, bingo and family-friendly shows.
Ribby Hall has a choice of seven different eateries, including an Italian restaurant and a pancake place, as well as a dedicated spa hotel compete with an aroma room, saunarium, Balinese salt inhalation room, herbal sauna, outdoor rustic sauna and a hydrotherapy pool.
For a seven-night stay in a dog-friendly cottage, two adults and two children (and the dog, of course) can expect to pay £1542. The cost includes free entertainment, swimming, indoor soft play areas, outdoor playgrounds and woodland trails.
The resort is also offering £50 spending money for stays in July and August on bookings made before June 4.
Whitemead Forest Park
Located just outside the town of Lydney, in Gloucestershire, Whitemead is a compact, low-key forest resort that offers plenty of things to see and do.
Guests can stay and enjoy the tranquillity of a forest cabin or take a quick stroll down to the swimming pool and play areas. With the Foresters Bar and Restaraunt also close by, as well as a gym, steam room and jacuzzi for adults, guests don't need to negotiate long walks to the amenities, and for a small cost, there are also underwater scooters, giant floating inflatable water walking balls and arts and crafts.
Not as large-scale as some of the others on this list, our reviewer found it the perfect getaway with her young children who would have struggled walking around larger sites. Whitemead is a friendly holiday village with comfortable, fully equipped self-catering lodges set in a scenic woodland setting.
For a seven-night stay, arriving on July, 30 the total price for two adults and two children would be £1160.
Sandy Balls Holiday Village
Somewhat of a legend in the New Forest, the Sandy Balls Holiday Village is set in 120 acres of woods and parklands and offers a selection of lodges, some complete with their very own hot tub.
The resort has both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, restaurants and bars and a range of activities including bush tucker trials, Nerf Challenges and daily entertainment. It is also home to a family of resident alpacas who are a big hit with younger visitors, as well as wild ponies who roam around the open spaces.
Guests can choose to get as involved as they want to, or simply enjoy the contemporary cabins with their scenic views and countryside.
With lots of five-star reviews, the popularity of the resort is reflected in the price, with a seven-night stay from July, 30 coming in at £2050 for a family of four in a superior lodge.
Tattershall Lakes
A great choice for water babies of all ages, Tattershall Park is set across eight lakes nestled away in the Lincolnshire countryside.
Offering one lake for water skiing, another for jet-skiing and two for fishing, guests are encouraged to make the most of the lakeside setting. There is also a man-made beach with outdoor entertainment areas, an adventure golf course, a spa, a gym and a sauna as well as play areas, bars and a selection of eateries.
The park is also located close enough to the city of Lincoln to make a day out worth your while, and there are numerous wildlife parks, farms and beaches within easy reach.
A seven-night stay for four on July, 31 would currently cost £1369, although towels, upgrades and certain activities will cost you more.
Savvy guests can find deals available on the website, including short breaks, mid-week breaks and discounts for stays outside of the school holidays.
Warmwell Holiday Park
Located in the coastal town of Weymouth, Warmwell Holiday Park is part of the Parkdean group which has multiple sites across the UK.
This particular holiday village is a hidden gem, with its 110m all-weather ski slope, fishing lakes and Sports Dome. The obligatory indoor swimming pool has a flume and wave machine and children can choose from lots of different activities in the arts and craft den.
Guests can stay in a range of lodges, some of which even feature indoor hot tubs, and the accommodation is located a short distance away from the bar, restaurant and entertainment centre.
A seven-night stay for four from July, 28 costs £1589 in a one-bed lodge with an additional lounge sleeping area, and Parkdean has discounts available on certain dates throughout the summer.
They also offer deals on short breaks and family holidays during term time.
White Cross Bay Holiday Park
Another great choice for water lovers, White Cross Bay Holiday Park is set on the shore of Lake Windermere and is surrounded by woodland.
The park is compact and offers a limited selection of activities, but it does have an indoor pool, a spa pool, a sauna and steam room, a children’s play area and a full schedule of activities during the school holidays.
Offering all the essentials for an enjoyable holiday with younger children, White Cross Bay is also home to the Boathouse Bar & Restaurant and offers a takeaway service for lazy nights spent at home in one of the well-equipped lodges.
The views out across the lake may be priceless, but the accommodation is not. A seven-night stay for four starts at £1199 on August, 7, making this Cumbrian campsite and holiday park a much cheaper alternative to Center Parcs.
Tips for getting an even better deal
If you are chomping at the bit to book your holiday park getaway, there are other tips and tricks to try to bring the cost down further.
- Look for dates outside of the school holidays if you can. Some half-term dates can vary by region, so you could get lucky and find prices fall on certain dates. Check for inset days too, as they could give you a long week or term time break for less.
- Book early where possible. At Christmas time and in the dead of winter, most families are dreaming of a week away in the sun, meaning there are better deals to be had a village resorts across the UK.
- All lodges are self-catering and you can bring food to save money. Certainly aim to bring snacks and drinks to keep hungry children out of the sweet shop all day, and plan to eat out a couple of nights and the rest in the comfort of your cabin.
- Look for free activities. Swimming pools, play areas and outdoor nature trails are usually free (or included in the price of your holiday) so take advantage of as much time enjoying them as you can. Check the costs of additional activities before you leave, and book before you arrive to prevent getting caught out when you get there.
- Take advantage of deals and discounts. Many parks will offer money off for early bookings, percentage discounts for traditionally quieter weekends and reduced prices for little ones during school holidays. Unless you absolutely need to visit a certain location, shop around before you commit.
- Go abroad. Hear us out on this one. Center Parcs is an international company with parks in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. Not only are prices usually lower, but often school holidays vary a bit so you could end up there at a quieter point in time. Mumsnet and Facebook in particular have groups with people offering advice on doing this. It's a different kind of holiday and needs to be fully investigated, but if you love the adventure of long road trips with the family it could work out cheaper, although you'll need to factor petrol and ferry costs into your calculations.
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